As a former (but you never really leave) West Coaster, my fears of Vancouver Olympics is coming true. I mean really, heavy rain in the lower mainland and heavy snow in Texas??

While the weather has been ideal early in the season, the unpredictable West Coast winter is rearing it's ugly, rainy head.

The local hills, Seymour, Grouse and Cypress have always been subject to warm and rainy conditions. Poor choice for a world event in my opinion.

My family owned a cabin on Alta lake at Whistler for 8 years and we never did ski down past the mid station due to a lack of snow.

I really hope all goes better than the tragic pre games accident yesterday. If the opening ceremony is any indication, this will be a genuine world class event. Spectacular!

Way to go Vancouver, you are making me proud!

Hoping for the best. I really enjoyed the opening ceremonies last night. Very sad about the Georgian luger's accident.

We've spent a bit of time in Vancouver, but a lot more time in Whistler. It's really a wonderful ski town, and a fantastic place to go -- winter or summer.

The thing that always strikes me in Whistler is how incredibly friendly all of the folks working at the resort are -- it's a very international staff, from all over the world, and everyone you meet, from the ski instructors to the lifties to the waiters -- seem friendly, well trained, and happy to be spending the winter in Whistler.

It has a world-class mountain bike park. A few years ago we were in Whistler the same (summer) weekend as a mountain bike event, and they said there were as many visitors in town as on a peak winter ski day.

here's a good overview of the mountain bike park:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2xH5PXoueE